The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 2 eBook

“Yudhishthira said, ’When Duryodhana desired
to tread along the wrong path, what did the aged Kuru
grandsire say, O Hrishikesa, unto that vindictive
prince? What also did the highly-blessed preceptor—­the
son of Bharadwaja, say? And what did his parents
Dhritarashtra and Gandhari say? What did our
junior father Kshattri, who is the foremost of all
persons conversant with virtue, and who is always
afflicted with sorrow on account of ourselves whom
he regards as his sons, say unto Dhritarashtra’s
son? What also did all the kings who sat in that
assembly say? O Janardana, say it all unto us,
exactly as it happened. Thou hast already told
us all the disagreeable words that the Kuru chiefs
(Bhishma and Dhritarashtra) and others in that assembly
of the Kurus said unto the wicked Duryodhana who is
overwhelmed with lust and covetousness, and who regardeth
himself wise. Those words, however, O Kesava,
have flitted away from my memory. O Govinda,
I desire to hear, O lord, all those words again.
Act thou in such a way that the opportunity may not
pass away. Thou, O Krishna, art our refuge, thou
art our lord, thou art our guide!’

“Vasudeva said, ’Hear, O king, the words
that were addressed to king Suyodhana in the midst
of the assembly of the Kurus, and, O king of kings,
bear them in thy mind. After my words were ended,
Dhritarashtra’s son laughed aloud. Highly
incensed at this, Bhishma then said, ’Hear, O
Duryodhana, what I say for (the preservation of) our
race, and having heard it, O tiger among kings, do
what is beneficial to thy own house. O sire,
O king, my father Santanu, was widely known in the
world. I was, at first, his only son. A
desire sprung up in his heart as to how he might obtain
a second son, for the wise say that an only son is
no son,—­Let not my race be extinct may
my fame be spread. Even this was his desire.
Knowing this to have been his desire, I procured Kali
to become my mother, having myself made a promise
highly difficult to observe, for the sake of my father
as also for the sake of our race. How, in consequence
of that promise I could not be king and have drawn
up my vital seed, are, of course, well-known to thee.
(I do not grieve for that). Observing that vow
of mine, behold, I am living in happiness and joy.
In her, O king, was born my younger brother, that
mighty-armed and handsome supporter of Kuru’s
race, viz., Vichitravirya of virtuous soul.
After my father’s ascension to heaven, I installed
Vichitravirya as a ruler of the kingdom, that was
mine, while I placed myself under him as a servant
of his. O king of kings, I then brought him suitable
wives, having vanquished many assembled monarchs.
Thou hast heard of it often. Sometime after, I
was engaged in a single combat with the (great) Rama.
From fear of Rama, my brother fled, the more so as
his subject deserted him. During this period,
he became very much attached to his wives and accordingly
had an attack of phthisis. Upon his death, there